I first heard about the end of the world when I was 5 years old. That was in 1945. When I left the JWs, I was in my 20's and never cared much for end time predictions ever since. I have heard how man will destroy himself. I have read about impending financial collapse from LaRouche via You Know. Years before that I heard it from other folks.
When I hear about doom and gloom, I just yawn. Why? Because I have heard it for 55 freeeking years already. Also, I yawn because these predictions don't affect my day to day life. I can't change the big picture, either for good or ill, so why fret about such stuff. As the great philosopher, Alred E. Neuman of Mad Comics says, "What, me worry?"
What are your thought my friends. Doom and gloomers, please restrict you comments to 50 words or less. I am not intereseted in reading a 10 page cut and paste job from your archives.
If the end is truly coming soon, what control do we have over it? None! If it isn't, then we still have no control over it. Personally, I try to just make it through one day at a time and live my life. If it happens as the JWs say, we have nothing really to worry about. I don't believe in a fiery hell, so I don't worry there, either.
If you actually researched it, the end time doom and gloom crowd have been failing at predictions for two thousand years anyway, so why worry about it? Take care of your families and enjoy them while you can, life is short enough as it is. No need sitting around worrying to death about something that may never happen in our lifetime.
If God's Spirit is filling a Kingdom Hall, how is it that Satan can manuever the ones within that Kingdom Hall at the same time?
Amem brother Ben. Oops, I mean amen brother Dakota. Spending time thinking about and worrying about disaster is, as it says in Ecclesiastes, "vanity of vanities", a collosal waste of time.
In the Watchtower theology, it becomes crucial to keep doing good 'right up to the end' so that the individual can be assured of their salvation. Hence knowing the end is "close" is a spur to action, to perform 'right works'.
The Christian view found in the New Testament is quite different i.e. a person is saved by grace, so it doesn't hinge on what they do, or don't do. No fear, no guilt. Just love and thankfulness. Sounds pretty good to me!
Cheers, Ozzie
"It's better to light a candle than to curse the darkness." Anonymous
I have heard that for 40 + years now. As a matter of fact my mom just used it on me again today. But I have learned to enjoy and live each day as I have them as we don't know what tomrrow will bring. I once heard it said maybe this is heaven already so enjoy this life to the fullest.
Will
"I am quite sure now that often, very often, in matters concerning religion and politics a man's reasoning powers are not above the monkey's." Mark Twain
Shouldn't be surprising that I respond to this point. No you can't change the BIG picture. But you CAN make sure you are in the right spot. The "END" probably isn't going to be like the born-agains and Watchtowerites picture it.
There is a distinct focus on the "end" in the Bible. The Holy Ones (or whatever you want to call them) are expected to discern the proper time to flee. According to the Bible you need to know WHEN and WHERE to flee. "Keep awake, then, all the time making supplication that you may succeed in escaping all these things that are DESTINED to occur, and in standing before the Son of man." Luke 21:36
"Get out of her (Babylon the Great) if you don't want to share in her sins" Rev 18:4
The "end" happens but the outcome for each individual depends on their vigilance.
You obviously don't believe this because you are an atheist and you don't believe in the Bible. My personal plan is to WAIT AND SEE. If I see some serious crap happening I think I'll know what to do.
May you enjoy many more years, full of happiness and health! What you say is exactly true. Even if our curiosity leads to investigate every detail we want to learn about the end, we are still powerless to change anything.
We're just human and can't stop an earthquake, mudslide, tidal wave, tornado, hurricane, etc. All we can do is wait and watch. Therefore, MAD was definitely onto something, why worry?
